The Crafts Report - Leading the Crafts Industry for 35 years

Twenty-five years ago, craft buyers attending the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) would have found a new, modestly sized product division, American and International Craft. Small companies offered mainly American-made, contemporary craft, largely focused on home décor. Today, Handmade® has evolved into a destination market with a renewed focus on superior design and craftsmanship, and two new sections classifying artisans by process and provenance. This extensive, juried selection of cross-category handcrafted items runs August 14-18, with a notable increase in the quality and quantity of participating artisans. 

One of the most significant changes ever made in Handmade will be unveiled during its 25th anniversary this summer, with the creation of two separate collections, Handmade Designer Maker, showcasing 360 limited-production makers—across all categories and media—from around the world,  and Handmade Global Design, featuring 150 international resources which combine sophisticated design with traditional artisanal techniques.  

“It now will be much simpler for buyers to find the kind of craft they’re looking for,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “There is a clearer distinction between categories, and exhibitors are presented in two easy-to-shop venues.”

Handmade Designer Maker  
What hasn’t changed over the past quarter century is that craft remains the arena within which individual artisans express personal statements, rather than follow trends. Craftspeople follow their own design direction, creating products defined by their own hand. The new Handmade Designer Maker sec­tion will showcase artists from around the world, including Robert Held Art Glass, Rustico, Swallow and Flying Anvil Designs. Groups of international designer makers will be showcased with­in the German Pavilion and the British Crafts Council. 

Handmade Designer Maker will make its debut in the new, 40,000-square foot Javits Center North. The buyer-friendly facility features natural light, longer, more spacious aisles and a column-free layout. 

Companies offering “Made in the USA” products, such as Christmas Cove Designs Inc., Aster & Sage and Scott Potter Designs, will be located throughout this section, identified by a new “Made in the USA” logo. “Recently, we’ve noticed many buyers demanding domestic products,” notes Jefferson Cotton of Christmas Cove Designs. “They’re actually pinning us down as to the origin of production.”

This August, two Designer Maker exhibitors, Barrick Design Inc. and Fire & Light Glass, are collaborating to introduce a collection of candles with glass candleholders. “Over time, Hand­made has become more diverse, in­­troducing products from all over the globe,” notes Rick Faulkner of Barrick Design, one of Handmade’s charter exhibitors. “Dividing imported craft from American or designer-produced objects will allow buyers to focus on what’s important to them.”

Handmade Global Design 
The focus of Handmade Glo­bal Design is not only im­port resources, but also those exemplifying good design, traditional craftsmanship and com­munity build­ing through global artisan workshops. 

Located in the Javits Center’s Hall 1D, Global Design will include individual companies such as Aid to Artisans, Creative Women, TribalLinks and WeaveTree, as well as international design groups  like ProMexico, the Israel Export Institute and Amcham from Peru.

Gloria Delaney of Dwell­ing LLC, another charter exhibitor, is now located in Global Design, providing her the opportunity to meet savvy craft buyers who appreciate artisanal talent. “The common denominator between the two new categories remains high-quality products exhibiting true design characteristics,” observes Delaney. “Product quality in Handmade has im­proved ten-fold over the years.”

This summer, Dwelling plans to re-introduce Einstein Bowls from Haiti. Production began before the devastating earthquake hit the island. The workshop narrowly escaped damage, and now houses workers who lost their homes. 

Expect quality and quantity
Recognition of Handmade’s prominence among craft markets, coupled with an economic upswing, resulted in a marked increase in exhibitor applications for summer 2010. A surging design trend is simple, clean lines, and an absence of fuss. Buyers will find more glass and ceramics resources, and fewer jewelry suppliers. Craft artists recognize the advantage of meeting buyers from other categories by being part of a large gift market. Quality is ensured because each section has its own jury of experts who can identify the “best” within each category. ^TCR

Handmade at the New York International Gift Fair will run Aug. 14-18, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Visit www.nyigf.com for details or call (800) 272-SHOW.